Lifting jack



March 31, 1931. F. l GoRMLl-:Y

LIFTING JACK Filed March 17, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet l March 31, 1931. F. L.GORMLEY 1,798,878

LIFTING JACK Filed March 17, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 F'. L. GORMLEYLIFTING JACK Filed March 17, 1928 March 3l, 1931;

3 Sheets-Shea# 3 Lw L Ivwenhzr: ranl. Gormley,

y f/mw/M Patented Mar. 31, 1931 UNITED sTAriezs` PATENT OFFICE-.,

FRANK L. GOBMLEY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AssIGNon '.ro THE BUDACOMPANYQOF HARVEY, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION or' ILLINOIS LIFTING JACKApplicationled March 1f?, 1928. Serial No. 262,392.

This invention relates to lifting jacks and particularly toself-lowering jacks and has for its object the production of a jack ofthis character in which the parts are reduced to a minimum, more simplyconstructed and more accessible to the operator. i

This simplicityiof construction being possible as the jack of the`present invention is designed to sustain only a weight of thirtyve tonsas compared With the Weight of fifty tons which the jacks shown anddescribed in my pending application No. 156,111, patented` J an. 8,1929, as Patent 1,698,053, are designed to sustain. Y

This object is attained by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, one preferred formthereof Vis illustrated in the` drawings, this form having been foundtogive satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understoodthatthe various instrumentalities `of which the invention consists canbe variously arranged and organized, and the invention is not limited tothe precise arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities asherein shown and described except as required by the scope of theappended claims.

lOf the drawings Figure 1 represents a plan of a lifting jack embodyingthe principles of the` present in vention. y a, y a

l,Figure 2 represents an elevation of the Slm- ` kFigure 3 represents asection of sameon line 3 3, on Fig. 2, drawn to an enlarged scale.`

Figure 4 represents a section of ysame onV line 4, 4:,on Fig. 3.

Figure 5 represents a section of same on line 5, 5, on Fig. 4.

i Figure-6 represents a section of the clutch mechanism on line 6, 6, onFig. 3, and

Figure 7 represents a section of the ybrake mechanism on. .line 7, 7,`011 Fig# 3- "Similar` characters i indicate lilren parts throughoutthe' several figures of the drawvertically movable ram 12.

The rain 12 has an enlarged head ladapt-M ed to rest upon the top of thestandard 11 when in its lowest position. y

The lower end ofthe rain l2 has mounted therein a nut` llllthreaded tothe main lifting screiv 15, the lower end of which has keyed thereto abevel gear 16 meshing with abevel gear 17 formedupon the actuating shaft18. The shaft 18 has mounted on its `outer end a device 19 for impartingrotary movement to the shaft 18 in one direction only, and that is,during the lifting operation. a The standard 11 has a lateral extension20 provided with a bearing for the actuating shaft 18. i a

Within the chamber formed by the lateral extension 2() is mounted a Wormgear 21 se` cured to the actuating shaft 18 `and, meshing with a Worm 22formed upon the horizontal shaft 23.

The pitch of thevvorm 22 is such as to permit it` to be rotatedby saidWorm gear 21 in hichever direction the gear 21Ina`y be roe tated. Oneend of the Worm shaft`23 is mounted in a bearingin the Wall of extension20- While the opposite end is mounted :in a bearing in the removablecover plate `24. ,f Y Y -Roller bearings 25, 26, areprovided for theopposite ends of said shaft 23 and these bearings `take up allend`thrust of 4Worm shaft 23. a i l f Keyed to theshaft 23 isfan annularmein"-` ber 27 to which are pivoted a pluralityof pavvls `28 eachprovided with a pluralityxof teeth adapted toengage the` ratchetteeth lbearing "for on the ring 29 having a spur gear 30 formed upon theperiphery thereof.

The hub 29m of ring 29 revolves in a bearing 32 formed in a partition 33within the casing 10 and the ends of the ratchet teeth 28:0 contact withthe periphery of the pawl carrying member 27.

A plate 34 encloses the pawls 28, this plate being secured' to member 27by screws or studs 35, the screws 35 also forming pivots for the pawls28.

This plate 34 prevents the displacement of the annular hub 29a: of ring29 from its bearing'32.

The pawls 28 are normally forced outwardly into engagement with theratchet teeth 28a; on ring 29 by means ofthe springs 36.

The teeth of gear 30 mesh with the t-eeth of a pinion 37 formed upon ashaft 38 having bearings in vthe partition 33 and cover plate 24.

This-partition 38 is in a housing 33extending laterally from thestandard 11'at right angles tothe extension 20. Y

To the shaft 38 is keyed the brake disk 39 having an annular groove 4()in its periphery in which are pivotally mounted a` plurality of shoes 41adapted under centrifugal force to be moved outwardly into contact withthe brake arms 42. y

The brake arms 42 are pivotally mounted upon a stud 43 extending fromthe partition 33 of housing 33x. y

These arms 42 are providedwith overlapping lugs 44 to span' the gapbetween the free ends of said brakearms 42.

The free ends of the arms 42 are parallel and between these ends is a:cam member 45 formed upon an' oscillating shaft 46, one end of whichhas a bearing in the partition 33 while its opposite end extends throng`i the cover plate 24 and has secured thereto an actuating handle 47. y

The free ends of the arms 42 are retained in contact with the cam 45 atall times by means of the springs 48, the oppositer ends of which aredisposed in sockets 48'foriied in the arms 42 and the walls of thecasing 11.

On the cover plate 24 is an outwardly eX- tending stop lug 49 whichlimits the movement of the handle 47 when moved to spread apart the arms42. Y

Each brake shoe 41 has astud 5() entend-` ing therefrom through anopening 51 in the anges of brake disk 39, said opening having a greaterdiameter than that of said stud 50. g Y l Y The movement of the shoe 41about its pivot is limited by said stud 50 coming into contact with thewall ofsaid opening` 51.

Owing to this limitation of the outward movement of the shoes 41, thearms 42'1nay bemoved entirely free from contact with mee the shoes 41when it is desired to lower the jack rapidly.

Threaded to the casing 11 is a member 53 having a soft metal head 54adapted to impinge upon the thread of the worm 22 and prevent anyrotation thereof.

Ears 57 extend from the opposite sides ofV the casing 11 and at one sideof the center thereof to whichfare pivoted handles 58 by which the jackmay be easily moved.

The ears are disposed as described Ato better balance the weight of'jackwhen lifted.

l A safety locking device 59 is disposed at the upper end of casing 11which forms no part of the present invention, being fully describedin mypending'application Ser. No. 156,111, hereinbefore -referred to. v

By constructing the jack in the manner herein shown and described theparts are reduced to a minimunna better balanced jack is obtained, andeasier access to the various elements is provided.

1t is believed that the operation and many advantages of the inventionwill be understood readily without further description. Havingthus-'described my invention, I claim: p

'1. In a self-lowering lifting jack provided with a steep pitchrotatable screw, al supporting casing therefor, and a vertically movableram; a bevel gear secured to the lower end id screw; a drivingshafthaving a bevel C3 gear on and rotatable with said shaft; a wormabove said worm gear and meshing therewith`r said worm being immovableendwise; a spur gear surrounding one end of the worm shaft havingratchet teeth thereon; a member secured to said shaft and rotatabletherewith forming a support for said spur gear; pawls carried by saidmember coacting with said ratchet teeth; an automatic brake mechanismincluding a rotatable `shaft parallel with said worm adapted to retardthe lower'- ing ofthe ram; and a pinion secured tosaid shaft andmeshingY with said spur gear.

2. In a self-lowering lifting jack provided with a steep pitch rotatablescrew, a supportingcasing therefor7 and a vertically movable ram; abevel gear secured to the lower end of said screw; a driving shafthaving a bevel` gear meshing withl the -screw gear; a worm gear on'androtatable with said shaft; a worm above said worm gear and meshingtherewith, said worm being immovable end- Lr meshing with the screwgear; a worm wise a ring surrounding one end of the worm shaft havingratchet teeth formed on its inner wall and spur gear teeth on itsperiphery, said ratchet teeth and gear teeth being' in the same plane; amember secured to said worm shaft and rotatable therewith forming asupport for said ring; pawls carried by said member coasting with saidratchet teeth; an automatic brake mechanism including a r0- tatableshaft parallel with said worm adaptcd to retard the lowering of the ram;and a pinion secured to said shaft and meshing with said spur gearteeth.

3. In a self-lowering lifting ack provided with a steep pitch rotatablescrew, a supporting casing therefor, and a vertically movable ram; abevel gear secured to the lower end of said screw; a driving shafthaving a bevel gear meshing with the screw gear; a worm gear on androtatable with said shaft; a worm above said worm gear and meshingtherewith, said Worin being immovable endwise; a ring surrounding oneend of said worm shaft having peripheral teeth; a cyindrical member onsaid worm shaft forming a support for said ring; means carried by saidmember for rotating said ring in one direction only, said rotating meansbeing in the same plane with said teeth, a pinion meshing with the ringteeth and rotatable thereby; a shaft on which said pinion is mounted; abrake disk on said pinion shaft; and means coacting with said disk forretarding the lowering of said ram.

4L. In a self-lowering lifting jack provided with a steep pitchrotatable screw, a supporting casing therefor, and a vertically movableram; a bevel gear secured to the lower end of said screw; a drivingshaft having a bevel gear meshing with the screw gear; a worm gear onand rotatable with said shaft; a worm above said worm gear and meshingtherewith a ring surrounding one end of the worm shaft provided on itsperiphery with spur gear teeth and having ratchet teeth thereon in thesame plane with the gear teeth; a member secured to said worm shaft androtatable therewith, with the periphery of which the inner ends of theratchet teeth contact; a plate secured to said member preventing thedisplacement of said ring from said member; pawls carried by said membercoacting with said ratchet teeth; an automatic brake mechanism includinga rotatable shaft parallel with said worm` adapted to retard thelowering of the ram; and a pinion secured to said shaft and meshing withsaid spur gear.

5. In a self-lowering lifting jack provided with a steep pitch rotatablescrew, a supporting casing therefor, and a vertically movable ram; abevel gear secured to the lower end of said screw; a driving shafthaving a bevel gear meshing with the screw gear; a worm gear on androtatable with said shaft; a worm horizontally disposed "above andmeshing a cover plate for said housing having a bearing for the end ofsaid wormshaft; ashort shaft parallel to ,and at thev samelelevationasrsaid worimrotatable in @bear-ings in said partitionand cover plateand having a pin-- ion formed integral therewith; aring sur-` roundingthe ,worm sha-ft ,with `a hub` rotatable in a cylindricalopening in saidpartition, and having spur gear teeth` on its :periphery meshing withsaid pinion ;1 means on said worm shaft `for rotating said ring in onedirection only and automatic brake mechanism surrounding said pinionshaft and adapted to retard the lowering of the ram.

6. In a self-lowering lifting jack provided with a steep pitch rotatablescrew, a supporting casing therefor, and a vertically movable ram; abevel gear secured to the lower end of said screw; a driving shafthaving a bevel gear meshing with the screw gear a worm gear on androtatable with said shaft a worm horizontally disposed above and meshingwith said worm gear; a laterally extending housing to said casing havinga vertical partition through which the worm shaft extends; a cover platefor said housing having a bearing for the end of said worm shaft; ashort shaft parallel to and at the same elevation as said worm rotatablein bea-rings in said partition and cover plate and having a pinionformed integral therewith; a ring surrounding the worm shaft and havingspur gear teeth on its periphery meshing with said pinion and providedwith an annular hub in a bearing formed in said partition; a collarsecured to said horizontal worm shaft; a closing plate for said ringsecured to said collar; means on said worm shaft for rotating-said ringin one direction only; and automatic brake mechanism surrounding saidpinion shaft and adapted to retard the lowering of the ram.

7. In a self-lowering lifting jack provided with a steep pitch rotatablescrew, a supporting casing therefor, and a vertically movable ram; abevel gear secured to the lower end of said screw; a driving shafthaving a bevel gear meshing with the screw gear; a worm gear on androtatable with said shaft; a worm horizontally disposed above andmeshing with said worm gear; a laterally extending housing to saidcasing having a vertical partition through which `the Worm shaftextends; a cover plate for said housing parallel to said partition andhaving a bearing for the end of said worm shaft; a short shaft parallelto and at the same elevation as said worm rotatable in bearings in saidpartition and cover plate and having a pinion formed integral therewitha ring surrounding the worm shaft and having spur gear teeth on itsperiphery meshing with said vpinion and a hub rotatV able in acylindrical opening in' said partition; means rotatable with said Wormshaft preventing the displacement of said hub from said opening; meanson said Worm shaft for rotating said ring in one direction only; ahandleout-side said cover plate; a cam on thev opposite side of said coverplate and adaptedv to be actuated by said handle; and automatic brakemechanismv surrounding said pinion shaft including brake arms controlledby said cam, said brake mechanism being adapted to retard the loweringof the ram.

Signed by me at Harvey, Illinois, this 14th i day of March, 1928.

. FRANK L. GORMLEY.

